Selfsufficientish.com

red wrote:

Rachael wrote:I have been using my mooncup for over three years now and I just love it. I had some initial teething problems with it but I can't imagine being without it now! I actually find it more convenient than disposible stuff because its always there when I need it, and it has certainly saved me money.

After a while of using just the cup I treated myself to some washable pads, and they are just wonderful. At present I have tiger print, sun-and-moon print, frog print, cat print and spider print!

oo where did you get the washable pads from? I keep meaning to try the mooncup - but this i have been wondering for some time - how do you deal with it when you are out and about? I mean - in a public loo - the cleaning the mooncup part....? Do you just get on with it or what?

The tiger print was Moon Mammas, bought from www.snazzypants.co.uk, who don't seem to stock them anymore Its very good though, I've had it for a couple of years and its still fine. The sun-and-moon one is Wemoon, an Australian company which sells through www.plushpants.co.uk. I have a multicoloured one which I bought in a health food store which was made by an African women's collective, however it has separate liners and I prefer an all-in-one style. The remaining ones I made myself. None of the ones that I have are actually made from organic fabric, but I hear that it is possible to find ones that are.

My experience with emptying the mooncup in public has been much the same as everyone elses: it has never been necessary. I think that some people who do empty it when out of the house just empty the contents into the toilet and wipe it clean with some toilet paper, so I suppose thats a possible solution.

hmk wrote: I've never yet aappeared like lady macbeth....
Not a trip to the loo to do with your toddler in the same stall though- mine would start asking VERY LOUD questions!

ok that made me chuckle

thanks for the advice. Trip to health food store needed I guess.

Lunapads are doing a scheme here http://blog.lunapads.com/2006/08/spread ... .html#more which invites you to place a link to their site on your blog/webpage and tell them about it, and in return they will send you some of their wares for free. Shipping is also free. There is no obligation to have bought their pads in the past, or to buy them in the future.

They are a Canadian company and so the stuff will have to be sent from Canada, hardly locally produced for most of use here! But I thought this offer might be useful for anyone who was wanting to try cloth pads but not too keen to splash out on something they might not like.

The offer has been on for a few weeks but as far as I'm aware it is still operating.

i have to say, i'm a mooncup lover through and through now. I've had mine since september last year (a whole year!!) and its my best friend!

Just started with the mooncup - scred myself the first time I used it (think I put it in a little too, erm, "safely" and had to go fish ), but will try again next time

you'll get the hang of it after a couple of time and where to fit it so it's comfortable

Diana,
I had exactly the same problem the first month I used the mooncup. Happily I can now report the second month went without hitch. I am now a believer & attempting to persuade friends to join us

Aww, thanks for the support guys - I promise I'll persevere

Ive just had a look for a mooncup on Ebay and they look enormous!!!! Are they really that easy to insert and take out? Isnt there a vaccum caused, so heavy pulling power needed to get them out - that would cause me to panic a little I think lol - images of having to go to the docs for him to surgically remove it!

Ranter wrote: I can vaguely remember struggling with tampons, when I first started to use them, so am assuming/ hoping it'll get easier with the mooncup as it did with tampons. Did others have this sort of issue early in their useage?

Very much so, during my first two cycles I had not got the hang of the insertion and removal and thought I'd have to give up. A tip I found useful was to squeeze well before pulling downwards (to break the seal keeping the Mooncup in place). Also make sure that the stem is trimmed so that the device is comfortable during use and that the pinholes near the rim are not blocked.

Chapspad wrote

Ive just had a look for a mooncup on Ebay and they look enormous!!!! Shocked Are they really that easy to insert and take out? Isnt there a vaccum caused, so heavy pulling power needed to get them out - that would cause me to panic a little I think lol - images of having to go to the docs for him to surgically remove it!

There are 2 sizes, so be sure to get the right one (dependant on age & if/ how you've given birth) & they work a treat. I struggled with removal, the first month, & had visions of turning up at A&E asking for help. But I always managed it alone. By the 2nd month I'd perfected squeezing the cup to break the seal, before pulling downwards to remove. No problems at all.

Reckon Im gonna have to get one then - thanks for the advice

be warned: you will be telling all of your female friends and relations about it within a few months!!

Success, one friend has decided to buy a mooncup Several more to work on though.

i've been meaning to get one of these (mooncup) and have finally ordered one. now i have a weird question...

...can i practise using it before my period? i want to get the hang of getting it in and out before my 1st mooncup period, because i'll be at a festival then, and i really don't want to be fannying around with tampons etc

jane